07.25.2025
Rio Da Yung OG Connects With Dallas Rapper Zillionaire Doe for New Video “What U Spend“
“What U Spend” is the Latest Single From F.L.I.N.T. (Feelin’ Like I’m Not Through), His Upcoming Album
With Over 300 Million Streams on His Catalog This Year To Date, Rio Da Yung OG’s Video With the Rising Dallas Rapper Follows a Triumphant Homecoming To the City of Flint, Where He Received a Proclamation In His Honor
Steeped in the Sounds and Traditions of the City of Flint, Which Recently Gave Rio a Proclamation Recognizing His Achievements, Including His Status as the City’s Only Platinum-Certified Rapper, the Upcoming F.L.I.N.T. Features Guest Appearances From Peezy, VonOff1700, Star Bandz, Zillionaire Doe, Rmc Mike, YN Jay, FBLManny, and More
Critical Praise:
“…it’s good to have him back.” – Pitchfork
“…the loose-lipped, punchline god from Flint who became a Michigan rap titan” – Pitchfork
#66 Best Album of the Decade So Far (City On My Back) – Even his offhand comments have the power to smack you with bitter truths while you try to hold back the laughter.” – Passion of the Weiss
Best Albums of 2025 So Far (RIO FREE (Something Happen)) – The FADER
“I cannot possibly list all the lines that made me laugh out loud” – Stereogum
“Even his offhand comments have the power to smack you with bitter truths while you try to hold back the laughter.” – Passion of the Weiss
The Announcement:
Tearing through the Michigan rap scene with his trademark sense of humor and unapologetic authenticity, Rio Da Yung OG has been waiting his whole life to embrace his rap star lifestyle. Now, with his legal troubles behind him and a new album plus 62-date tour in the near future, Rio is in the mood for flexing, sharing his new video “What U Spend.” Produced by his frequent collaborator Danny G Beats, “What U Spend” uses a kinetic Flint-style beat, complete with thumping bass and dancing steel drums. Rio connects with rising Dallas rapper Zillionaire Doe for a hustle-hard dialogue, as Rio touts the giant diamond earrings on his “tiny ears” and Zillionaire pays tribute to Rio’s home state and promises to ball hard like Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham. In the video, the two rappers connect at night with their bankrolls and foreign cars, as Rio prepares to head out on his epic “Welcome Home Tour.”
Following recent clips for songs like “Great Day,” (currently trending on YouTube at #19 with over 550k views in one week) and “I GO,” featuring FBLManny, “What U Spend” is the latest release from F.L.I.N.T. (Feeling Like I’m Not Through), Rio’s next album. Filled with high-octane instrumentals from regular collaborators like Wayne616, BEATSBYSAV, and Danny G Beats, F.L.I.N.T. promises the same headspinning flows and rewindable punchlines that Rio always brings, imbued with a new perspective and focus that Rio achieved after emerging from prison in late 2024. The album brings collaborations with Michigan associates like Flint’s own Coochie Man YN Jay and his Dum N Dumber duet partner Rmc Mike, and connects Rio with his favorite up-and-comers from the national scene, including Chicago emcees VonOff1700 and Star Bandz, Dallas’s Zillionaire Doe, and Atlanta’s FBLManny. Home to the quotable recent single “Sneaky ‘B’,” F.L.I.N.T. (Feeling Like I’m Not Through) arrives on August 10th via M I N E Ent. / EMPIRE.
Rio recently kicked off his “Welcome Home Tour,” his first-ever headlining trek, with a sold-out show in Detroit. The show in Detroit followed an appearance at Flint’s Harmony Fest, during which he received a proclamation from the City of Flint for his contributions to the city’s culture and community. Hosted behind Flint’s county jail, Rio’s homecoming was a symbol of his massive success, as the former inmate had a police escort parking luxury cars behind the building. Rio’s event was a special one for his whole family, as Rio’s son performed while the rapper signed autographs and Rio entered the jail to visit his close associate Big Ghost for the first time since 2021.
The “Welcome Home Tour” spans over 60 dates, passing through San Francisco on August 10th (Regency Ballroom), Los Angeles on August 12th (The Belasco Theater), Houston on August 30th (9pm Music Venue), and New York on September 24th (Webster Hall) before concluding in Chicago on October 11th (Patio Theater). Featuring support from Baby Money, FBLManny, and many special guests, tickets for the “Welcome Home Tour” are available at https://www.touringwithrio.com/
Watch “What U Spend” ft. Zillionaire Doe: https://youtu.be/yccj80Zyc5M
Pre-save F.L.I.N.T. (Feeling Like I’m Not Through): https://music.empi.re/feelinglikeimnotthrough
Stream “Great Day”: https://music.empi.re/greatdayrio
Watch “Great Day”:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ODIHFyf9Qc
Watch “I GO” ft. FBLManny: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aI6y8ZHL3sg
Watch “Sneaky B”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_vlNOnXmDM
F.L.I.N.T. (Feeling Like I’m Not Thru) tracklist:
- Different Music
- Great Day
- Never Switched
- Ghetto Love Story
- I GO ft. FBLMANNY
- Back Rubbed
- AGGRESSIVE FLOW
- Open A Bank ft. 3200 Tre
- Rich Regardless ft. YN JAY
- Ghetto Man ft. Peezy
- Dumb N Dumber Flo ft. Rmc Mike
- Thug Talk
- Another Story
- Sneaky “B”
- Ask Jay
- BS Story
- Big Ben
- Turnt In Real Life ft. VonOff1700
- Ghetto Star ft. Star Bandz
- What U Spend ft. Zillionaire Doe
The Background:
Emerging out of Flint in the late 2010s, Rio Da Yung OG helped transform his working class city into one of the most exciting rap hotbeds of the past several years. Elevated by notable co-signs from Detroit rappers like Peezy and buoyed by fan excitement over his freestyles and guest spots, Rio stormed onto the national scene, garnering overwhelming critical acclaim for releases like 2020’s City On My Back (named the #66 Best Album of the 2020s So Far by Pitchfork), Fiends Don’t Matter, 2 FACED, and his Dum and Dumber mixtape series with fellow Flint punchline artist Rmc Mike. During this time, Rio released some of his scene’s defining rap hits, including “Movie” ft. Louie Ray, “Chicken Coupe” ft. Peezy, and “1v1,” his collaboration with Lil Yachty. Just as his career was hitting high gear, Rio hit an obstacle in the form of a 4-year prison sentence. In late 2021, he left words of wisdom for his fans in the form of his “Last Day Out” freestyle, and went away. Even prison couldn’t stop Rio from putting in work. Fans rallied behind his 2019 hit “Legendary,” which grew into his biggest hit, generating hundreds of millions of streams.
In December 2024, Rio returned to the scene with a bang, releasing the epic first day out freestyle “RIO FREE,” racking up over 1 million views in a day and 8 million streams in just three days. The music video trended #1 on YouTube Music for three weeks straight. “RIO FREE” paved the way for the RIO FREE EP, which earned praise from Pitchfork, and its expansion RIO FREE (Something Happen), named one of the Best Albums of 2025 So Far by The FADER. In early January, Rio performed his first concert since 2021, selling out a star-studded show in Detroit, and in April, “Legendary” earned PLATINUM status from the RIAA, making Rio the first-ever rapper from Flint to earn a PLATINUM record. Rio has also been a willing collaborator, jumping on the viral “Shark” with Jorjiana, recently performed at the NBA Finals, appearing on Money Man’s new album, and reuniting with Rmc Mike for “Bragging Rights,” which trended at #28 on YouTube for music with over 1 million views in its first week.
With F.L.I.N.T. on the way and more excitement in the future, Rio looks to make 2025 his year. Stay tuned for more music and announcements in the coming weeks.
Photo credit: Esdras Thelusma
Rio receives his proclamation from the Mayor of Flint
Please contact Michelle or Annjie for more info.
Links:
official site | instagram | youtube | spotify | tiktok | apple
“What U Spend” ft. Zillionaire Doe: https://youtu.be/yccj80Zyc5M
Pre-save F.L.I.N.T. (Feeling Like I’m Not Through): https://music.empi.re/feelinglikeimnotthrough
“Great Day”:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ODIHFyf9Qc
“I GO” ft. FBLManny: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aI6y8ZHL3sg
“Sneaky B”: https://music.empi.re/sneakyb / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_vlNOnXmDM
RIO FREE (Something Happen): https://music.empi.re/riosomethinghappen
Buy tickets for Rio’s “Welcome Home Tour”: https://www.touringwithrio.com/